Politics

In the face of the Obama/Congressional Democrats’ stimulus package, Congressional Republicans had little choice.  A vote for the package would inevitably be defined as a victory for the President and his bipartisan conciliation, not as a demonstration of Republican willingness to come to the table.  Beyond that, it would alienate the partisans still standing behind [...]

Film Reviews

It has been about two years since the release of Juno, but my disgust with the film has yet to subside.  Why bring this up now, you might ask?  Because the tendrils of Juno continue to wind themselves through American pop culture and film making, although, thankfully, not to the degree I had initially feared [...]

Criticism and Book Reviews

Kenneth Waltz’ book, Theory of International Politics , published in 1978, is a disappointing effort.  I have never been a proponent, per se, of neorealist perspectives vis-à-vis International Relations, but Waltz, despite his near-messianic stature in the neorealist camp, spends a great many pages saying virtually nothing.  The crux of Waltz’ argument is that in [...]

Music and Culture

The following is a very carefully selected series of images.  Meditate on them individually, and, once finished, as a whole.  Consider them, yourself, and the nature of the world around us.  Cherish the resulting emotions.  They should be plentiful, varied, and wholly individual. Feel free to share any revelations or religious experiences that ultimately manifest in [...]

Food and Drink

Fiction

We’ve taken excerpts from Sarah Palin’s speeches and public statements and inserted them into various scenes from some of the works of the Bard, William Shakespeare.